GMAS English Language Arts 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student reads a passage about climate change and wants to identify the author's central claim. Which element best signals the central claim?
- The title of the article
- A repeated idea supported by evidence throughout the text (Correct answer)
- The longest paragraph in the passage
- The final sentence of the introduction
Correct answer: A repeated idea supported by evidence throughout the text
The central claim is the main argument the author consistently supports with evidence across the entire text.
Question 2: Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?
- The team of players are practicing hard.
- Neither the coach nor the players was ready.
- Each of the students have completed the assignment.
- The list of items was checked twice. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The list of items was checked twice.
'List' is the subject, which is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'was.'
Question 3: In an argumentative essay, what is the primary purpose of acknowledging a counterclaim?
- To confuse the reader about the writer's position
- To demonstrate the writer has considered opposing views and can refute them (Correct answer)
- To replace the writer's own claim with a stronger one
- To provide additional supporting evidence for the main argument
Correct answer: To demonstrate the writer has considered opposing views and can refute them
Addressing counterclaims shows critical thinking and strengthens the writer's credibility by demonstrating awareness of other perspectives.
Question 4: Read this sentence: 'The old house, which had stood for over a century, was finally demolished.' What does the underlined clause tell the reader?
- Why the house was demolished
- Additional information about the house's age (Correct answer)
- The main action of the sentence
- Who owned the house
Correct answer: Additional information about the house's age
The nonrestrictive clause 'which had stood for over a century' adds descriptive detail about how long the house had existed.
Question 5: A poet writes: 'The wind whispered secrets through the trees.' What literary device is used?
- Hyperbole
- Simile
- Personification (Correct answer)
- Alliteration
Correct answer: Personification
Personification gives the wind human qualities—specifically the ability to whisper and keep secrets.
Question 6: When analyzing an informational text, a student should distinguish between facts and opinions. Which of the following is a fact?
- Renewable energy is the best solution to pollution.
- Solar panels are more attractive than wind turbines.
- Georgia receives an average of 50 inches of rain per year. (Correct answer)
- Everyone should recycle to save the planet.
Correct answer: Georgia receives an average of 50 inches of rain per year.
A measurable statistic like average rainfall is verifiable and therefore a fact, unlike the other statements which express judgments.
Question 7: Which revision best improves the clarity of this sentence: 'Running to school, my backpack fell off.'?
- Running to school, the backpack fell off.
- While I was running to school, my backpack fell off. (Correct answer)
- My backpack, running to school, fell off.
- Running, my backpack fell to school.
Correct answer: While I was running to school, my backpack fell off.
The original is a dangling modifier; adding 'While I was' clarifies that the person was running, not the backpack.
GMAS English Language Arts 2
A student reads a passage about climate change and wants to identify the author's central claim.
Which element best signals the central claim?